Category: personal

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still unpacking from visit to Cuba

lighthouse

I’m still unpacking from my recent trip to Cuba. Tight schedules had me returning to work immediately, so it has been a challenge to put things away, sort through the very few souvenirs that I brought back, and return to the swing of things both at home and work. Routines are underrated. Just saying.

journalI also have emotional unpacking I’ll be doing for months to come. I wrote every day, partly to document the events, and partly to reflect on them. It was hyperspeed the whole way, and were it not for the daily opportunities to sit in a chapel and slow my mind down, and my heart, I think I would have just been a pinball, bouncing from place to place in a blur. The journal kept me focused on the moments, and it was easier that way — to enjoy each day and recap it at night.

It made for little sleep, though. I filled up this puppy. That’s a lot of journaling.

I’ve been writing in a few places, sharing some of my experiences and insights, and a little fun, too. I hope you check out my posts and interviews:

A series at Aliteia.org:

Return to Cuba: Carrying Heavy Baggage

I took a Selfie with Pope Francis

Pope Francis Fuels Hopes of Young Cubans

A fun guest post at CatholicDrinkie.com: Sampling Local Drinks in Cuba

The usual antics at Catholic Weekend: CW 290 Maria’s Cuban Pilgrimage

Too much fun with Hello Kitty and Pope selfies at The Catholic Hipster Podcast: Episoed 7

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an offering to Our Lady of Charity in Cuba

shrine offeringI recently took a trip of a lifetime to Cuba. So many things happened: I reunited with family, visited the home where I was born, went to Mass at the church where I was baptized, met Pope Francis. It was beyond amazing — a blessing in ways that I don’t even know yet.

One of the highlights was visiting the National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre. I’ve wanted to go on pilgrimage there for many years — a yearning developed over time that matched a growing reconversion to the faith and a consecration to Jesus through Mary some years ago.

I’ve had the pleasure of writing about the Blessed Virgin Mary under this title in a few places online, and most recently, in my book coming out in a few weeks, published by Ave Maria Press. I can’t help but think with that name, it couldn’t have been published anywhere else, right?

I visited the Shrine the morning that Pope Francis left Cuba for his United States visit. Circumstances were such that the Shrine had been locked and secured, and we were the first to enter after the Pope’s visit. The tiny statue of Our Lady was still on the altar, a remarkable opportunity to see it up close!

My small group of family and friends gathered closely around the altar where we prayed, offered our intentions, and received a blessing. It was beautiful, and a privilege to offer not only my personal intentions but to place at Mary’s feet the intentions of so many dear friends, too.

I quickly pulled from my bag a copy of my book, an advance copy my publishers generously provided for me, and gave it to the Blessed Mother as a thanksgiving offering. I have much to be thankful for in the production of this book. My family, especially my husband and children, encouraged me for years to pursue my dream of writing. Writer friends and editors such as Pat Gohn, Lisa Hendey, Sarah Reinhard, Heidi Saxton, Elizabeth Scalia, Greg and Jennifer Willits, and so many others, including dear friends at SQPN.com, who have shared their gifts with me to make me a better writer, all had their names slipped into the book — lovely people who are a part of this book because they are a part of my life.

Placing the book on the altar gave me a feeling of completion, the last thing I had to do to truly complete the project. Now I feel that other adventures await me. And I look forward to them with joy.

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Joyful expressions

   

  

 I’m still sitting at the gate for the eleventieth delay, doing some people watching. In a family text my brother recalled the first flights that were allowed to Cuba in the 80s for humanitarian or medical reasons. It was madness then. A sadness hung in the air in those days — bittersweet and sometimes tragic when stories would surface about traveling to see parents or children that had not had contact in decades. 

Today, the ambiance is so different. There’s stress in the air, to be sure, but here’s so much joy. So. Much. Joy! The Pope is going to Cuba! 

Anticipation. Excitement. 

I know! I’m one of them. 

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